As the year draws to an end, and many of you will be winding down and enjoying the break, Crescents Community News would like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers and supporters who have made this newsletter possible.

It has been a pleasure providing news and information to you, and we thank you for your contributions and your e-mails in response to many of our articles. 

Have a safe and restful time out, insha'Allah.

The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier, Hon Glen Elmes MP, Member for Noosa in the Queensland State Parliament visited the Kuraby Mosque during the week, along with Mr Robert Cavallucci, the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Mr Garry Page, Executive Director of Multicultural Affairs Queensland, Ms Freya Ostapovitch MP, Member for Stretton and Mr Zach Davis-Hancock, advisor to the Minister.   After witnessing the Asr prayer being performed, the  delegation was given an explanation of the role of Mosques in Islam and the development of the Kuraby Mosque by Dr Mohamad Abdalla. Imam Akram Buksh presented an overview of the prayer rituals and the rest of the meeting was opened to the delegation to pose questions they had about Islam and Muslims.   The meeting paved the way for a more formal meeting with the Minister and a wider representation of the local Muslim community.
Mr Mohammed Yusuf, ICQ president, chairs the meeting	Mrs Farzanah Ally delivers the welcoming address
Imam Akram Buksh of the Kuraby Mosque explains the significance of ablution before prayers while Zain Nathie demonstrates the wudhu.
Mr Mohammed Yusuf presents the Minister with a gift from the Muslim community of Queensland and a copy the book, A 100 Year History of the Holland Park Mosque

THE former president and assistant treasurer of the nation's peak Muslim body have been stood down by their board amid an audit into alleged financial irregularities at the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.

Ikebal Patel (pictured left), the former president and current vice-president of AFIC and the assistant treasurer Ashraf Ali were suspended after an executive committee meeting on December 9, and an external auditor brought in to examine the use of hundreds of thousands of dollars of the organisation's funds.

Mr Patel was also suspended from the boards of all AFIC schools pending an investigation into millions of dollars in funds being charged by AFIC to Muslim schools of which he was also a board member.

Mr Patel has denied any wrongdoing.

President of the organisation Hafez Kassem (pictured right), who took over from Mr Patel earlier this year, wrote to state council members last month warning of "irregularities" with AFIC accounts after an internal audit.

Mr Kassem said AFIC - also known as Muslims Australia - now had an auditor working on the books.

"We are waiting for auditors before we can know the outcome of the investigation."

Mr Patel said the meeting had not followed the constitution of the organisation.

"I do not believe there was a vote. The meeting did not follow the constitution of AFIC."

"I have a copy of all claims. I have been asking them to show me any claims that they feel is unaccounted for . . . but I do not have anything yet."

Mr Ali could not be contacted for comment.

The investigation will also look into payments from Muslim schools to AFIC.

The Australian revealed AFIC had been wrongly charging Australia's largest Muslim school, Malek Fahd in Sydney's southwest, millions in "management fees" and backdated rent.

Mr Patel was the chairman of the board of directors of Malek Fahd and president of AFIC at the time the payments were made.

Malek Fahd received just under $20 million, or 80 per cent of its funding, from the commonwealth and state governments, including $5.1m from the Gillard government's Building the Education Revolution funding for the construction of a school hall.

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli eventually froze the school's funding and forced it to repay $9m in state government funds given to the school.

Probes by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and NSW Police have also been launched into the school's finances.

The Canberra Islamic School also became the target of a commonwealth investigation after revelations Mr Patel's son-in-law had received a contract worth almost $300,000 to build a security fence at the school under the federal government's Safer Schools program.
 

Source: The Australian
 

South-East Queensland has a newly opened restaurant and takeaway at its doorstep in 2796 Logan Road, Underwood called Límon which caters for Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine   At its opening night during the week, invited guests were treated to a seemingly never-ending smorgasbord of dishes that included pasta, steak, fish and traditional Turkish foods, beautifully presented and served.   Owner, Duzaun Ozturn, told CCN that Límon will be very much a family restaurant that focuses on providing authentic and exquisitely prepared dishes at very affordable prices. "We also pride ourselves on offering our customers service that is prompt, friendly and attentive," he added.   Give the place a try, and let us know what you think - the proof of the baklava, after all, is in the eating!
Enjoying the spread of Turkish delights	Just some of the delicious array of dishes available
(from left to right) Yunus Solwa, Farouk Adam, Cem Ozturk, Hassan Quorane, Niyazi Ozturk, Duzaun Ozturk, Mustafa Ally, Osman Rane and Shummis Rane	The Limon Team

Controversial broadcaster Alan Jones has apologised on air over comments he made in April 2005 describing Lebanese Muslims as "vermin" and "mongrels".

The Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) had ordered Jones to apologise on his 2GB radio show between 8am and 8.30am (AEDT) any day this week.

On Wednesday just after 8am he did so, saying his comments were in breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

"I apologise for making those comments and I recognise they were unlawful and I also apologise on behalf of Radio 2GB."

The apology comes two months after Jones lost a lengthy legal bid to overturn the 2009 decision, which found he "incited hatred, serious contempt and severe ridicule of Lebanese Muslims".

The case was taken against him by Sydney-based Lebanese-born Muslim leader, Keysar Trad.

The complaint related to comments Jones made on April 28 about a Nine Network current affairs story reportedly showing young men of Lebanese origin taunting police.

"If ever there was a clear example that Lebanese males in their vast numbers not only hate our country and our heritage, this was it," Jones said.

Referring to the men as "vermin" and "mongrels", he added: "They simply rape, pillage and plunder a nation that's taken them in."

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Keysar Trad responds to Jones' apology.

The Imam and members of the Islamic Society of the Eight Mile Plains Mosque met with the preferred Civil Construction company this week to finalize pricing that will see the long-standing Mosque completed.

The cost is estimated to be between $450 000 and $550 000 exclusive of GST. The final price will be known by the 15 January.

Work is planned to commence in early February for completion in April if the full funds become available.

Funds collected so far total $410 000.
 

Someone has already volunteered to cover the GST component which will be refunded to him.

There is a shortfall of only $50 000.

If you would like to donate to this project call 0404 807 861.

The Indonesian Islamic Society of Brisbane (IISB) held its AGM last week and elected Mr Febi Dwirahmadi as its president.

IISB has 5 principles: Religious, social, educational, recreational, and not for profit organisation.

ABOUT IISB ACTIVITIES 

•  Religious organisation 
  • Biweekly Quranic study group 
  • Monthly Islamic Public Seminar 
  • Islamic camping once a year 
•  Social organisation 
  • Organize charity and donation for those who need 
•  Educational organisation 
  • Quran Learning for kids and youths every sunday
  • Tahsin / Quran reading training for parents every sunday 
  • Arabic language
•  Recreational organisation 
  • Picnic and family gathering

As part of the fund raising initiative, the Islamic Society of Holland Park has planned a Fundraising Dinner at the Islamic College of Brisbane, 45 Acacia Road, KARAWATHA at 7 pm on 19th January, 2013.

There will be a presentation relating to the purchase of the Salvation Army property, and an auction of various items as well as a lucky door prize.

Islamic Society of Holland Park hopes that there will be great support for this initiative.